Can Anyone Beat Mike Murphy Jr. at QCS?

On Sunday, Kyle and I took in the Quad City Air Show for most of the afternoon and then (for the second week in a row) Kyle ditched me on race night.

It was a nice night for racing at the Quad City Speedway and right off the get go you could tell the track was going to be good and make for some great racing.

The first feature of the night was a barnburner with the IMRA Midget Lites. A couple youngsters, Aaron Schuck and Mitchell Davis, ran side by side for nearly the whole feature. With five laps to go Davis was bobble and that’s all Schuck needed to pull away and take a victory back to Joliet, IL. Davis would take second followed by Austin Archdale, Jacob Sollenberger, and Jeremy Hull

The Street Stocks rumbled onto the track next with a three way tie for the point lead coming into the evening’s action between Steven Jackson, Rob Nylin, and Jarett Franzen. It sure looked like Keith Blum was going to play spoiler again and pick up another win as he charged from his ninth place starting spot to challenge Dwayne Smith Jr. for the lead late in the race. A flat tire ended his night and the race with a yellow/checkered finish. Smith would take the win followed by Rob Nylin, who took over the overall point lead, Jimmie Simpson, Steven Jackson, and Rick Schriner.

In the Mod Lites, Bryan Brinker tailed Jason Masengarb for the first half of the race until mechanical failures ended his night. Masengarb would hold off his car owner Shon Sanders for another “W”. The top five was rounded out by Mike Pershing, Dan Guss, and Mike Dominguez.

Milo Veloz Jr. dominated the IMCA Modifieds leading flag to flag from his front row starting spot in their 20 lap feature. Brandon Durbin shot through the field to take home second followed by Greg Durbin, who also started towards the back of the pack, Rob Henry, and Doug Crampton.

Once again Mike Murphy Jr. put a whoopin’ on the IMCA Late Models in the 30 lap main event. Early on Todd Malmstrom looked like he had Murf’s number after he shot off like a rocket at the beginning of the race and took over the lead shortly after that. Murf used skilled driving and opportune yellow flags to catch Malmstrom and take over the lead. Murf went untouched the rest of the way and parked the #14 machine in victory lane. Mike Zemo Jr. would also get by Malmstrom and take second. The remaining top five were Malmstrom, Matt Ryan, and LeRoy Brenner.

It was like old times in the 4-Cylinders with Aaron Hitt picking up the win in convincing fashion. Andy Loy was on Hitt’s bumper early on but a combination of a strong #48 car and Loy looking like he had mechanical problems, Hitt would pull away and win. Zach Dahl took second followed by Steven Spiker, Brandon Dahl, and Loy.

Due to my paying job I wasn’t able to make it to the Davenport Speedway on Friday night for the $2,000 to win 4 Stock Nationals but as many know by now Zach Dahl took home the victory after Jay Orr was disqualified.

This Friday, August 15^th, the Davenport Speedway will have another points night in all five classes plus its Kid’s Night with bike races.

This Friday, August 17^th, the Quad City Speedway will have their Hall of Fame Night featuring the Illinois Vintage Racing Club. They are also inducting the class of 2014 into their Hall of Fame. The inductees are LeRoy Brenner, Tom Bull, Jack Carey, John Durbin, Ron Gustaf, Terry Mattly, Bob Toland and a mystery inductee.